LIBRARY NEWS: Hot Chocolate, Public Health Session Today

The hot chocolate is ready, so we hope you’ll come to your library today, Thursday, December 16, from 4-6pm to celebrate winter with us. While you sip, join in the fun with seasonal crafts.

And earlier today, from noon-1pm, is the next free public health session with representatives from San Juan Basin Public Health at the library discussing the dangers of radon gas in your home and distributing free radon test kits. The geology of Southwest Colorado leads to an increased risk of radon gas in our community so this is an important topic for us to understand. In fact, radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer, even in people who have never smoked. Take advantage of the expertise of the staff at SJBPH to attend this latest event in their public health series at your library.

Holiday closures
Your library will be closed beginning at noon on December 24 and also on Christmas Day, December 25.

Library hours
Most of our programs are happening in person. Also, our hours have returned to pre-COVID levels – and even more on weekdays:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday open 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays open 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturdays open 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
For those uncomfortable coming into the building, curbside service continues. Phone 264-2209 when you are in the parking lot so staff can bring the items out for you. If you put a hold on something, please wait for your usual alert (email, phone call or text) before coming to pick it up.

Family storytimes
Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. join us for free in-person children’s stories, games and plenty of reasons to get up and move. Saturday’s all-ages Discovery Times continue on Facebook at 2:30 p.m. with games, art ideas, science experiments, history and more.

Dungeons & Dragons
Join us Tuesday, December 21 from 4-6 p.m. for our ongoing Dungeons & Dragons game free for teens and young adults on Google Meet every other Tuesday.  Contact [email protected] to learn how to join. If you don’t have internet access, contact us anyway – we may be able to accommodate you in the library.

Writing challenge
A new all-ages writing challenge will be posted December 20 on the library’s Facebook page. We hope you will challenge your creativity by participating in this free all-ages activity.

Adult education
Our free PALS (Pagosa Adult Learning Services) session take place on Thursdays from 5:30-8 p.m. when Mark helps with high school equivalency, GED, college prep, financial aid, tutoring and more.

Books on CD
“The Becoming” by Nora Roberts is a new epic of love and war among gods and humans. “Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone” by Diana Gabaldon is the latest in the epic Outlander historical fantasy series. “Flying Angels” by Danielle Steel features six young flight nurses after Pearl Harbor. “The Wolf” by J.R. Ward is a Black Dagger Brotherhood paranormal romance. “Never” by Ken Follett is an international political drama.

Mysteries, suspense and thrillers
“Fear No Evil” by James Patterson is an Alex Cross thriller. “Autopsy” by Patricia Cornwall is a Dr. Kay Scarpetta mystery. “The Left-Handed Twin” by Thomas Perry is a Jane Whitefield mystery. “A Christmas Legacy” by Anne Perry centers on an elderly grandmother who the family thinks isn’t dying fast enough.

Other novels
“Well Matched” by Jen DeLuca is a Renaissance Faire rom-com. “Tales from the Café” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi follows four customers who hope to time travel from a Japanese café. “Just Haven’t Met You Yet” by Sophie Cousens begins when a reporter on a business trip picks up the wrong suitcase at the airport. “Fight Night” by Miriam Toews is a darkly humorous story about three generations of women via letters that will never be sent. “Lesser Evil” by Timothy Zahn is the conclusion of the Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendacy trilogy.

Library story collection
“Libraryland,” edited by Ben Bizzle and Sue Considine, is a collection of inspiring first-hand stories spotlighting the countless ways library staff make a difference for their communities.

Biographies and memoirs
“I’m Possible” by Richard Antoine White is the memoir of a musician successfully navigating racial and socioeconomic disparities. “The Correspondents” by Judith Mackrell documents the lives of six remarkable female journalists. “Medicine Woman” by Lynn V. Andrews is an autobiographical account of a woman’s search for identity in a Native American culture. “The Jesus I Know” by Kathy Lee Gifford shares the stories of people in various stages of knowing and experiencing Jesus in their spiritual journeys. “The Young H.G. Wells” by Claire Tomalin shows how his first 40 years shaped the life of the father of science fiction.

Other nonfiction
“They Knew” by James Gustave Speth outlines what the author believes to be the U.S. Federal Government’s 50-year role in causing the climate crisis. “Republican Rescue” by Chris Christie explains how he believes the Republican Party can recapture glory and win elections. “Killers on the Mountain” by Wayne Smart is a first-aid guide by this EMT on handling snake bites, avalanches, altitude illness, hypothermia and more. “SDA: Board Member Manual” is a reference guide for special districts. “Justice on the Brink” by Pulitzer Prize-winner Linda Greenhouse offers insight into the Supreme Court over the past 12 months.

Downloadable e-books and audiobooks
We have a wide variety of downloadable e-books and audio books for all ages – children, tweens, teens and adults – in cloudLibrary.  The items in cloudLibrary are purchased separately from physical items, so the books available are different – and it continues to use the consortium’s contributions as well as those that we bought.  Select AspenCat Union Catalog when setting up cloudLibrary for use. Email or phone us at 970-264-2209 if you need our help setting up this service on your device.

Donations
Many thanks to Mary Perouty and Susan Mercer for their generous monetary donations and to Jill Porterfield and our anonymous donors for their materials donations.  Please put your materials donations into the dropbox at the library – not at City Market, which is reserved for returns.

Library foundation
Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the Ruby M. Sisson Memorial Library Foundation to support and enhance your library by raising funds for information resources, programs, services and facilities.  Mail checks to P.O. Box 2045, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 or call Cindi Galabota at 970-264-2209.

Quotable Quote
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” Confucius, Chinese philosopher.

Website
For more information on library books, services and programs – and to reserve books, e-books, books on CD and DVDs from the comfort of your home – please visit our website at https://pagosalibrary.org.

Carole Howard & Library Staff

The Ruby Sisson Memorial Library has been located at 811 San Juan Street (corner of S. 8th and Hwy 160) since 1989. The library is overseen by the Upper San Juan Library District, a tax-funded special district in Archuleta County.